Ukraine Merges With European Power Grid, Ending Ties With Russia

Ukraine has now officially been added to an electricity grid powering much of Europe, allowing the country to finally delink its power system from Russia. 

According to ENTSO-E, a Belgium-based firm representing a larger group of operators throughout Europe, reported that the electricity grids of Ukraine and its neighboring country, Moldova, have been successfully synchronized with its Continental European Power System in a “significant milestone.”

CBS News noted that the plan to move to the European grid had been in the works since the annexation of Crimea in 2014, though the recent invasion has understandably sped up the process.

In fact, as per UPI, what would usually take engineers a year and a half to achieve was completed in just three weeks.

“This step will give Ukraine the opportunity to receive electricity if [Russia] continues to destroy our power infrastructure, and thus to save our power system,” said Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, Chairman of Ukrenergo, the country’s main operator. 

“We are sincerely grateful to our European partners for their great support and assistance during these difficult times,” he added. 

[via CBS News and UPI, cover image via Harperdrewart | Dreamstime.com]